USATSI
Joe Lombardi is sticking round within the AFC West. The veteran coach has been employed as the most recent offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos, the group introduced on Saturday. Lombardi, 51, had spent the final two seasons in Los Angeles because the offensive coordinator of the Chargers earlier than being dismissed from his duties on Jan. 17.
The transfer to Denver reunites Lombardi with Sean Payton, who was not too long ago acquired by the Broncos in a commerce with the Saints and put in because the group’s head coach. Lombardi coached underneath Payton from 2007 to 2013 in New Orleans as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach, after which once more from 2016 to 2020 because the quarterbacks coach earlier than taking the Chargers’ OC job.
In a unusual flip of occasions, that is the second time that Lombardi has come again onto a Sean Payton-led workers after a two-season stint as an offensive coordinator. He left New Orleans again in 2014 to guide the Lions offense solely to finally return simply two years later. Now, after a two-season stint in L.A., he is again with Payton as soon as extra.
While Lombardi did discover himself fired by the Chargers simply over a month in the past, his general numbers in L.A. weren’t dangerous. The Chargers ranked fifth and thirteenth within the NFL in scoring over the previous two seasons and fifth and eighth in third-down offense. He additionally helped Justin Herbert throw for over 5,000 yards in 2021 after which over 4,700 yards final yr.
What proved to be his demise in Los Angeles, nevertheless, was partly because of the membership’s historic meltdown in opposition to the Jaguars on Super Wild Card Weekend because the group blew a 27-0 lead. Following the loss, Lombardi was criticized for ignoring the bottom assault to burn clock and as an alternative opted to proceed throwing the ball, permitting Jacksonville extra time to mount its comeback.
In Denver, Lombardi, alongside Payton, will look to enhance a Broncos offense that struggled with Russell Wilson underneath heart in 2022. Last yr, the offense ranked twenty ninth in DVOA and final in third-down conversions (29.13%).
